Frequency and CT Findings of Recurrent Disease after Lung Transplantation

Collins Jannette, Hartman Michael J., Warner Thomas F., Muller Nestor L., Kazerooni Ella A., McAdams H. Page, Slone Richard M., Parker Leonard A.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and computed tomographic (CT) findings of recurrence of the primary diasease after lung transplantation at six North American lung transplantation centers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 1,394 lung transplant recipients were reviewed to identify patients with recurrent primary disease. Their CT scans and pathologic specimens were reviewed.

RESULTS: The frequency of disease recurrence in the six transplantation centers was 1% (15 of 1,394 patients), including six previously reported cases. Sarcoidosis recurred in nine (35%) of 26 transplants and was the most common disease to recur. Three (33%) of nine patients with recurrent sarcoidosis had correlative findings at CT. When present, CT findings were usually different at recurrence compared with pretransplantation CT findings.

CONCLUSION: A relatively small percentage of patients are at risk for recurrence of primary disease following lung transplantation. Sarcoidosis is the most common disease to recur.